Sports Psychologists

BriMc · #1 08-29-2006, 10:32 AM

I'm thinking about working with someone to sharpen the psychological side of my game. Does anyone here have any experience/recomendations in this area?

Backround:
I play mainly B&M poker, I'd call myself semi-pro, as I have a full time job with benifits for security, while I make about 60% of my income from poker. I've been doing this for about 18 months. My goal is to build my game up to the point where I don't need to keep the job and can just dedicate my self to poker.

bkholdem · #2 08-31-2006, 08:55 AM

I considered doing this (and still might) but am going to wait until I am in a better financial situation. I'm pretty sure your going to have to pay cash and full price per visit. I think you will prob need one who is not biased against poker/gambling and ideally one who already understands poker to make the first few meetings more efficient.

Quanah Parker · #3 08-31-2006, 10:03 AM

1. Get a bag of fresh shrooms.

2. Rent "The Cinnicinati Kid"

3. Start Kenny Roger's "The Gambler" after the 3rd roar of the MGM lion at the beginning.

all will be revealed

BriMc · #4 08-31-2006, 05:24 PM

I found a guy who works with atheletes and traders. I'm going to start with him next week, I'll write a trip report if anyone is interested.

Pog0 · #5 08-31-2006, 11:20 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I found a guy who works with atheletes and traders. I'm going to start with him next week, I'll write a trip report if anyone is interested.

[/ QUOTE ]

please do.

kash munni · #6 09-01-2006, 01:02 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I found a guy who works with atheletes and traders. I'm going to start with him next week, I'll write a trip report if anyone is interested.

[/ QUOTE ]

interested

bkholdem · #7 09-01-2006, 07:28 AM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I found a guy who works with atheletes and traders. I'm going to start with him next week, I'll write a trip report if anyone is interested.

[/ QUOTE ]

please do.

[/ QUOTE ]

yes i'm v interested as well.

GreatWhitey · #8 09-01-2006, 03:43 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I found a guy who works with atheletes and traders. I'm going to start with him next week, I'll write a trip report if anyone is interested.

[/ QUOTE ]

Very Interested.

BriMc · #9 09-08-2006, 02:17 AM

So I had my first session today. Its late, so I'll just give a few details and impressions. I'll keep updating if people are interested.

So the Psychologist I'm working with is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. He apllies this in a process called Peak Performance Training.

In the cognitive area, I'm starting by learning to become more aware of my thoughts and emotions while I'm playing. What he asked me to do was to keep a journal/log of Events-Thoughts-Emotions periodically as they occur during a typical session. In much the same way I would take notes on poker hands, only I'm taking notes on myself. Once I've become more aware of myself and my thoughts/emotions, I'll be able to start learning how to alter my behavior - the goals being to toally eliminate tilt/steam and put myself in a position to always bring my "A" game.

The other thing he aske me to do is a breathing exercise, I don't know why I'm doing this yet, but I'm lookng forward to finding out. The therapist says he has had a lot of success with atheletes by training them to use their breathing in the most psychologically advantageous way.

Overall I'm very excited about this process. Its not cheap at 200 a session, but I think its well worth the investment.

mordecaibrown · #10 09-08-2006, 02:41 AM

Please pass the info along as it comes.
I played baseball through college and it seemed
when I was on the mound during a game if I
was a little more patient in between pitches I became
more effective.
I also worked on controlled breathing.
I find myself doing it unconciously at the
poker table.

Keep the updates coming.
M.